Swimming device



Feb. 17, 1931.

S. A. REEVE SWIMMING DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1928 :7 anvewtoz Patented Feb. 17, 1931 Limos SIDNEY A. REEVE, or STATEN ISLAND, w s;

' SWIMMING, DEVICE Application filed-February 8, 1928. Serial No. 252,887.

It haslong been known that mans limbs are poorly adapted for the task of hydraulic propulsion. Hence, in addition to the various fiotative devices which have'been suggested for improving the buoyancy of the human body, a number of devices have been offered as improving the effectiveness of the human limbs as propellers. Since none of these earlier devices has met with wide success, it is proper to explain here, in order to definethenovelty of this present'invention, just .why they have failed.

It is now common knowledge among nauticalv architects, although not yet familiar to the average layman,that devices for moving water are always heavily taxed by incidental surface-friction, eddies, etc., to such degree that none can succeed which do not minimize these losses-with-skill. Modern designers of ship-propellers are exhaustively technical in their efforts at the exclusion of every iota of wetted surface which does not earn its right to existence, by aiding in the acceleration of the water. 7

' Earlier designers and inventors of swimmers" aids have not been properly alive to this necessity, nor sufliciently able in meeting it. Hence their failures. In contrast therewith thispresent improvement consists, in one of its essentials, in such an arrangement of parts that effort wasted in producing eddies or skin-friction shall have been so. minimized as to make the device of real aid, rather than a hindrance, to the swimmer.

I Another ofits essentials lies in its utilization of the large eXtensor muscles of the up per leg and back, in contrast with previous efforts, which have utilizedonly the'muscles below the knee; and also in its combination of the muscular powers of both arm and leg into a single useful result. Further essentials lie in its adaptability to the swimmers continual need for maneuvering himself in the water. Also in its convenience for being cast aside as-heapproaches the shore, orforbeing carried with him into thewater as-he enters. It is preferably, made heavier than water, so as to be unobjectionable in swimming-icontests, where any device at all buoyant would beruled out because ofthat-fact. i

In the drawings of this specification: Fig. lis a side-elevation of-theswimmer 1n the water, with the device attached use. I i

Fig. 2 is anenlarged-view ofthe,p art 11 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is, a cross-section. of .Fig. 2.,along the line 33. A i

Fig. 4 is a modification of my inventiongin the direction 'of simplicity, useful for occasions less formal than thoseiwarranting the use of the complete invention. i l

In the drawings, B j is a belt ,suitably attached about the. swimmers waist. Dependent from thisbelt are four.straps,.cords,or other flexible connections, namely ,S,on the swimmers left side, S onhis right .side, .and S2 and S3 passing down the frontv and;then backwardly between the legs. StrapsS-and S2join at P, behind the swimmer s; leftarikle, to support a pivot on'which isgfulcrumed the lever L. This leverhas across-sectionf rela tively' wide, as seen in Fig..l,,butrthin;in.a direction normal to the paperof 1,; asis visible in Fig. 3. Straps S. and S8. similarly combine to support a fulcrurri behind the The lever carries-atoe-piece1T,pref erably comprising somesort of a bandover the toes whereby the retractor muscles of-the Gill right ankle, oil-which is pivoted the lever L2,: I

leg may draw the lever uptowardsthe. swim mer.s body. The lever LQ Similarly-carrieS a toe-piece T2. Each lever comprises, a bend B or B2 centered about-the swimmer s respective heel. ThegleverL- also'has. an extension L' beyond the fulcrum; P, away from the swimmer. T0 the end of thisextension is attached, by pin, thecordori light "rod C", perhaps tubular in form, which extends to the handle. H in theiswimmers left hand. ,The lever L2 is similarly provided with (a .connection leading to tllB SWl-YH HLBI S right hand. If'the toepiecesare provided with straps over the toes, these connections C and C3 may be flexible; but if there are no toe-straps then the connections C and C3 must be capable of transmitting thrust, in order to bring the lever upwardly on its return-stroke, or to the left as seen in Fig. 1. In any event, the straps S, S, S2 and S3 must be made sufficiently still so as not to flex under the resistance of the return, or idle, stroke.

Attached to the outer ends of the levers L, L2 are pins 10, each forming a hinge for the twopart collapsible paddle 11, 11. Attached to the lower edge of the lever L, at 1 1, 14, are chains 12, 12 which, by their connection with the halves of the twopart paddle at 13, 13, prevent the said halves from swinging open on hinge 10 too far; but preferably, for reasons stated below, these halves are thus permitted to swing slightly beyond a position at right-angles to the plane of motion of the lever L, as seen in Fig. 3. lVhen, on the backstroke, these halves 11, 11 are brought together by the pressure of the water, they compress one or more light springs '15, whereby, when the working-stroke begins, they are given a slight initial opening, so as to catch enought water to open them completely. Preferably the chains 12, 12 comprise elastic elements, such as the helical springs 16, 1G to minimize shock.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4:, the sole advantage of which, over the device of Fig. 1, is simplicity, the connections with the swimmers waist are omitted. The toe-piece T is enlarged into a shoe D, or other form which can be held to the foot, while the pivot P becomes a mere bearing upon the instep. This arrangement loses that multiplication of the motion developed by the powerful extensor muscles of the upper leg and back which is a prominent feature of my invention as shown in Fig. 1; but it permits the swimmer to walk into or out of the water without encumbrance to his hands, a feature to be appreciated in general beach-sports. The device of Fig. l may have an extension, as indicated in dotted lines, with hand-connection C.

In the device of Fig. 1 the swimmer carries one lever and handle in each hand, until he has entered the water and has swum to sufficient depth for adjusting the apparatus as shown. He is then free to propel himself on his chest, on his side or on his back, at will. In all of these motions the dual strap-sup port for the pivot P, which may be arranged differently from the exact way shown without departing from my invention, forms an important element in permitting him to develop lateral or torsional thrust upon the water. Also, during each working-stroke the relative alinement of the parts 10, T and P as shown, with T to the right of a straight line joining 10 and P, together with the superopening of the two-part paddle described above, together afford a stability of equilibrium of the lever in the water without which the device would not be easily or effectively operable.

It is further essential to success that all the parts he kept to the greatest possible simplicity of form, so that their drag through the water may not eat up more power than is developed by the device; and this 15 especially true of the collapsible paddle, which moves through the water, when idle, at a velocity higher than any other part. It is for this reason that this paddle is preferably kept to the two-part form, with its two halves fitting together, when closed, to form a clam-shell-like body approximating the true stream-line form. Such a form has a relatively blunt rounded nose, slightly convex sides, and a tapering tail.

1 claim:

1. A swimming-crevice comprising a pair of levers, one for each foot, a collapsible paddle at one end of each lever, a hand-attachment at the opposite end of each lever, and a flexible attachment of each lever to the swimmers body located between paddle and hand-attachment, substantially as describec.

2. A swimming-device comprising a pair of levers, one for each foot, a collapsible paddle at one end of each lever, a hand-attachment at the opposite end of each lever, a fl Xible attachment of each lever to the swimmers waist located between paddle and hand-attachment, and a toe-piece on each lever between said waist-connection and said paddle, substantially as described.

3. A swimming-device comprising a pivot flexibly attached to the body of the swimmer, a unitary lever fulcrumed at the said pivot, a two-part collapsing paddle attached at the opposite end of the lever, and a toe-piece on said lever intermediate between fulcrum and paddle, the said paddle having an approximate streamline clamshell form when closed, substantially as described.

4. A swimming-device comprising two levers, one for each foot, a fulcrum for each lever suspended from the swimmers waist, a collapsing paddle at the end of each lever, and a toe-piece on each lever intermediate between fulcrum and paddle, the said paddles having an approximate streamline form when closed, substantially as described.

5. A swimming-device comprising a pivot flexibly attached to the body of the swimmer, a unitary lever fulcrumed at the said pivot, a two-part collapsing paddle attached at the opposite end of the lever, and a toe-piece on said lever intermediate between fulcrum and paddle, the said paddle having elastic means for opening it partially whenever the waterpressure permits, substantially as described.

6. A swimming device comprising a lever multiplying the motion of the swimmers limbs, a collapsing paddle on said lever at the point of maximum multiplication havmascot closed, substantially as described.

' tially as described.

7 A swimming-device "comprising two levers, one foreach foot, a fulcrum for each lever suspended from theswiinmers waist, a collapsing paddle located at the end'of each lever, and a toe-piece on each lever intermediate between fulcrum and paddle, the

said paddle having elastic means for opening it partially whenever the water-pressure permits, substantially as described.

8. A swimming-device comprising a lever for multiplying the motion of the foot, a collapsible paddle at the end of the lever having maximum motion, a hand-attachment at the opposite end of the lever, a bend in said lever in the plane of its motion intermediate between the foot-attachment and the handat-- tachment, substantially as described.

9. A swimming-device comprising'a pair of levers, one for each foot, a collapsible paddle at one end of each lever, a hand-attachment at the opposite end of each lever, an attachment of each lever to the swimmers (v waist located between paddle and hand-attachment, a toe-piece on each lever between said waist-connection and said paddle, a bend in said lever in the plane of its motion intermediate between toe-piece and waist-attachment, and a reverse-bend in the same plane between the first mentioned bend and the handattachment, substantially as described.

10. In a swimming-device, a belt for the swimmers waist, straps attached thereto at different points duallysupporting a pivot located behind eachheel or ankle, a' lever fulcrumed on each such pivot and bent in the plane of its motionso as to extend below the corresponding foot and beyond its toe, a toe piece on said lever, and a collapsing paddle on the end of said lever beyond the toe, substantially as described. a

11. Ina swimimng-device, a belt for the swimmers waist, straps attached thereto at different points dually supporting a pivot located behind each heel or ankle, a lever fulcrumed on each such pivot and bent in the plane of its motion so as to extend below the corresponding foot and beyond its toe, a second extension of said lever from the pivot in a direction away from the swimmers foot, a toe-piece on the first mentioned extension, a connection of the second mentioned extension to the swimlnersfhand, and a collapsing paddle on the end of the first mentioned extension, beyond the swimmers toe, substan- 12. In a swimmingdevice, a lever attached to the swimmers toe and extending substantially in the plane of the bentleg, a collapsible paddle on the end of said lever beyond the toe, a bearing of said lever on the swimmers instep, and an extension of said lever backwards beyond the heel, carrying at its end a'coniiection' witlrthe swimmers hand, substantially as described. 1 "13.-In' a swimming-device,==a lever suspended from thefswimmers body-multiplying themotion'of'his limbs,- a collapsible paddle attached to the lever at thepoint of maximum. multiplication, having elastic means for reducing shock at the end of'both Opening and closing movements, substantially 'a's descr'ibed.

' 14. A swir'nming-de'vicecomprising a lever fulcru'mednearthe swimmers foot'at the end ofa'sup portfiexibly attached t'o the swiminers body,.a collapsing paddle attached at the opposite end of the lever, and a toe-piece on said lever'intermediate between fulcrum.

and paddle, substantially as described.

15. 'A "swimmlng-device comprising two.

levers,"one for each foot, for each lever a fulcrum near the swlmmers foot supported from near the swnnmers'wa1st,-and a toepiece on each lever intermediate between'fulcrumand paddle, substantially as described. 161 A swimming-device comprising two levers, one for each foot,a fulcrum near the sw mmers foot for each lever, each fulcrum being supported from two or more p oints near'theswimmers waist, a collapsing paddle atjtheend of each lever, and a toepiece on eachlever intermediate between fulcrum and paddle, substantially'as described. 17. A swimmlng-device comprlslng a pair of levers,- one for each foot, each lever fulcrumed near the foot on supports flexibly attached near the swimmers waist, a collapsible paddle at the end of each lever, a toepiece on each lever intermediate between fulcrum and paddle, and a bend in each lever in the plane of its motion such as to bring the toe-piece below a straight line connecting the paddle with the fulcrum, the word below being understood in the sense of the swimmers altitude, substantially as described.

18. A ,swimmingdevice comprising a unitary lever fulcrumed on a support flexibly at tached near the swimmers waist, carrying at its outer end a collapsible paddle, with an intermediate point on said lever responsive to the magnitude and direction of motion of the swimmers toe, substantially as described.

19. In a swimming-device heavier than water, a lever multiplying the extensor motion of the knee-joint and the flexor motion 'of the elbow, having at its point of maximum paddle, substanwhenever. the water-pressure permits, substantially as described. 7

21. A swimming-device comprising a lever multiplying the motion of the swimmers limbs, a two-part completely collapsing paddle on said lever at the point of maximum multiplication, the two halves of said paddle forming, when closed, a hollow clam-shell body of substantially stream-line shape, and being arranged to rotate, when open, into positions beyond the plane through the hinge normal to the plane of the levers motion, the axis of which hinge passes, when prolonged, below the fulcrum of the multiplying lever, relatively to a vertical position of the swimmers body, substantially as described.

22. A swimming-device comprising a unitary lever fulcrumed. upon a support fronr the swimmers body and multiplying the magnitude of motion of a limb, which supporting fulcrum is arranged to resist both vertical and lateral displacement, and a collapsible paddle attached to said lever at its point of maximum multiplication of motion, the two halves of said paddle forming, when closed, a hollow clam-shell body of substantially stream-line shape, substantially as described.

23. In a swimming-device heavier than water, a lever multiplying the extensor motion of the knee-joint, having at its pointof maximum multiplication a collapsible paddle, the two halves of said paddle forming, when closed, a hollow clam-shell body of substantially stream-line form, substantially as described.

SIDNEY A. REEVE. 

